SHILLONG, Feb 26: The state BJP is writing to the Centre to ensure the safe return of 24 students from Meghalaya currently stranded in war-torn Ukraine.
“We are writing to the Centre to help the 24 students return safely,” state BJP president Ernest Mawrie said on Saturday.
He said the letter would be sent to the ministries of Home Affairs, Defence and External Affairs.
The students from Meghalaya currently stuck in Ukraine are awaiting further instructions to evacuate the country.
While some students are hiding in a bunker somewhere in Zaporizhzhia, others have been asked to take shelter in a college basement.
Daphibalahun Lyngdoh Mawlong, one of the stranded students told The Shillong Times that they were staying at the hostel all this while. They rushed to the college basement after the authorities sounded the alarm when a nearby city was attacked.
She said there are about 250 students hiding in the basement.
“We have been asked to remain where we are. It will take 10-12 hours for us to travel from Zaporizhzhia to the Romanian border by bus,” she said.
Another student, Richie Kalra said they are awaiting further instructions from the Indian embassy.
The state government has set up two helpline numbers – 9366066565 and 9863257261 – for students and citizens from Meghalaya stranded in Ukraine.
The state government also released a list of 17 students stranded across Ukraine and said it was in touch with the MEA to ensure the safe evacuation of all the students.
The Shillong Times had on Friday confirmed the names of at least seven other students pursuing their studies at the Zaporizhzhia State Medical University in eastern Ukraine.
The first batch of Indian students left Ukraine for Romania and a special flight of Air India to Mumbai with 219 Indian nationals from Romania arrived on Saturday.
